The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1887-10-08


thieves and n1arsuiers, against Migrants who
steal by night and SPECTATORS who rob ~
monday e demands that the load OF tax
for local, State aud Federal government
sIall rest with equal aud uniform pressure
upon all who share the benefits OF goou lAWs
faithfully executed.
How Is agriculture related to the
GREAT CAUSE or PUBLIC HDuoAT1aFf
To state this question &c TO formulate and
ouforee the answer II from the pubic
revenues, furnished mainly by the farmers
Of the State, public schools are maintained,
It needs no logic to prove that the farmers
BOYS and girls are primarily and especlall3 4
entitled to the rights, privileges and dement's
Of these schools. When the State eAacbs
tribute from taxable farm property 10
educate the children Of the State, then they
who pay the tribute have the pam lS.-'.h
ripht to enjoy the aCcruing benefits. NasL
mIiItftudes of citizens are not possessed OF
taxable property and yet are CARRIERS OF
WAGES, producers OF wealth, occupants o.
taxed realty and consumers Of taxed pro
dncts. II Indirectly, they are none the less
certainly taxpayers, and therefore entitled
10 tb,, benefits Of what Is gathered, apprO-
inflated and distributed for the support OF
public schools. A very large per eentage OF
the people have no other wealth than their
ability to work and earn wares, 1t is due
I
lust government and Of what Is eXpenued by
the State for the general welfare. The duty
to educate the children OF the state, 10 q
necessarily limited degree, implies the right
Of all honest citizens to share IN the dement's
Of the schools provided by the State, with
due care that the color line In schools shall
be strictly drawn. But agriculture, the
dominant power and chief contributor, de-
msDds that farm nWneTs and farm IlabOrefs
shall have the benefits Of public education:
The contribution that agricultural capital
paws in taxes to the cause OF educatlon ne
assuredly a very profitable investment. 1T is
money laid out for seed corn, which will re.
turn Its manifold profits. In all branches OF
labor intelligence adds to the WORKMAN
efficiency, For the masses of the people
the education of primary importance ana
chief value iB the learning Of the means anu
skill and art OF making subsistence ~ u
work that makes the difference between the
savage and the civilized. 1t Is work OF the
hands. calling for the guidance Ofthe minu'
recurring patience, endurance, promoting
heRlthful appetites, which removes the
temptations and idleness. 1t Is through
labor, therefore, that men are educated Iof
the great purposes Of life. But besides TINS
there Is the important education of the
schoOlroom, which no State can AFFORD TO
neglect, and 1t is to this that the farming
wealth Of the State is called on to contribute,
and 1t is 10 this that the highest interests OF
the State are permanently enhanced
Farmers who take pride In leaving their
farms better than they found them should
take the same pride IN leaving society more
intelligent aud better than they found It,
THE PULIC PRESS
has its relations to agriculture also. The
farmer feeds and clothes the editor and the
printer and the paper maker and the public
who read papers, magazines and BOOKS. Inc
49, sTfHT han
lent In substantial information, late news,
facts and discoveries 10 science and the arts
the ReFms OF current literature, interesting
truth In all its forms, all Tree from the talhG
OF immortality all without Islander or De
traction. Newspapers intended for general
circulation ought to be teachers and helpers
10 the farmers house and educators Of his
boys and girls. 1t is the duty Of Journalists
to keep the great interests Of agriculture
always IN mind, remembering always that
there can be nothing good In busine Bs en-
terprise, nothing useful In Invention, moth
ing sound in legislation, unless 1t tends 70
the benefit of those who cultivate the Land
1t is the proud satisfaction Of the farmer
that he receives the gifts of Providence at
frat hands, the immediate reward OF his care
and labor When he eats the products OF his
dOeks and fields, under his own roof tree,
prepared by the hands of his wife and daugh-
ters he feels independent and he ought to be
abundantly grateful to the source OF all good.
Yet Obliged to exchange his saFplus pro
duets for goods and wares that he cannot
produce, he is at the mercy OF buyers, sellers.
carriers and brokers, all Of whom must have
profit. The eEactiOns of these classes, Of
ten excessive, are great draw back TO farm
ers, taxing their labor heavily. Much OF the
actual value of farm products goes to increase
the wealth of carriers and middle-men that
ought to 20 back TO the farmer to add TO MS
improvements or contribute TO the comfort
of his wife and children. Wherefore the
farmer is directly and deeply interested in
| having a fair system OF carriage and merchap-
disc His products are the work OF honest
hands, and they Ought to be handled by
hands clean of dishonest and eXhOrbitant
charges.
ONE OF THE GREAT DANGERS
to agriculture is landlordism, the monopoly
of vast regions of territory by wealthy men
or much worse by companies OF speculatort
or corporations, involving the Ieashold sys
| TEN the TemoEseless stepnTOthsr to the soil
! the prolific source of evil to society and tht
State. Lands drained OF their richness, X
contribute rents to abseRtees for their luxury
! or vices or for investment In the institutions
of distant cities, must become poor anC
poorer from year 10 year, and the occupant!
| will grow poor by a ceaseless downward grad
uati6n. Agriculture feels excessive taxes
/
which come back 10 no form Of benefit 4
muEt languish.
| AL trades, ,callings and occupations ara
concerned Ia and interested In the success q
the farmer. There Is an imperative necessity
for the organization Of farming Interests II
meet existing economic conditions IN 9rdel
to afIectuaily protect these interests. 'Thert
is no conflict of this interest with any other
All trades and professions should unite y
aid and assist In the organization of hgFienl
4 tuFal societies and other associations which
have for their purpose the fostering Of agTt
cultural interests. What Is taken from thi
ground has mueh 10 do with our inatipna
prosperity +; In fact Il Is it's prime cause. tn
4 well titled fields Of the farmer are the hear
Of the republic, and at every pulse beat gu
products are driven into every mart on tn
globe.
IL The Governor offered q hearty welcome I.
the Western men who have settled In Loui
II siana